$15K reward offered in Laurens Co. threatening letters case

A handwritten envelope sent to police that they say contained a threatening letter. (Mar. 19, 2013/FOX Carolina)

Clinton Public Safety officers were present at Clinton High School Friday morning. (Mar. 8, 2013/FOX Carolina)

CLINTON, SC (FOX Carolina) -

Officials revealed that threatening letters sent to Laurens County schools and local police were mailed in the Upstate during a press conference on Tuesday.

State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Thom Berry was joined with a United State Postal Service inspector and local law enforcement to discuss the letters sent to Laurens County School Districts 55 and 56, Presbyterian College and the Clinton Public Safety Department and police chief on March 7-8.

While many details of the investigation were not released, investigators said the letters were typed but sent in handwritten envelopes that were processed at the Greenville plant, indicating they were mailed in the Upstate, according to the postal inspector.

The postal inspector said the culprit faces five to 10 years in prison for mailing the threats, which is a federal offense and the reason the postal service is involved in the investigation.

The postal service is also offering a $15,000 reward for information and hopes someone will call their tip line at 1-877-876-2455 (select option 2) with information about who sent the letters.

Berry said SLED's lab in Columbia with the help of local and federal investigators are working around the clock on the investigation. He said investigators are looking at everything from DNA to the words used in the letter to lead them to the sender, running every test possible as part of their investigation.

"We hope the person out there is getting the message that we're here, were after them and were closing in on them," Berry said.

Because the letters threatened local schools, Berry said they have law enforcement providing extra security and investigating the case to bring justice as expeditiously as possible.

He said because of the nature of recent history, they want to be very cautious and careful in handling the school threats.

"While they're still out there and at large, we're not going to give up our efforts," Berry said. "Every officer and agency is committed to bringing justice."

If anyone has information, they can also call the local 24-hour tip line at 864-200-4565 or Crime Stoppers a 1-888-CRIME-SC.